Overview

When the World Laughs is a book about the intersection of humor, history, and culture. It explores how film comedy, one of the world's most popular movie genres, reflects the values and beliefs of those who enjoy its many forms, its most enduring characters and stories, its most entertaining routines and funniest jokes. What people laugh at in Europe, Africa, or the Far East reveals important truths about their differences and common bonds. By investigating their traditions of humor, by paying close attention to what kinds of comedy cross national boundaries or what gets lost in translation, this study leads us to a deeper understanding of each other and ourselves. Section One begins with a survey of the theories and research that best explain how humor works. It clarifies the varieties of comic forms and styles, identifies the world's most archetypal figures of fun, and traces the history of the world's traditions of humor from earliest times to today. It also examines the techniques and aesthetics of film comedy: how movies use the world's rich repertoire of amusing stories, gags, and wit to make us laugh and think. Section Two offers a close look at national and regional trends. It applies the concepts set forth earlier to specific films-across a broad spectrum of sub-genres, historical eras, and cultural contexts-providing an insightful comparative study of the world's great traditions of film comedy.

Full Product Details

Author:   William V. Costanzo (SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of English and Film, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of English and Film, Westchester Community College)
Publisher:   Oxford University Press Inc
Imprint:   Oxford University Press Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 16.20cm , Height: 3.00cm , Length: 23.80cm
Weight:   0.846kg
ISBN:  

9780190924997

ISBN 10:   0190924993
Pages:   416
Publication Date:   22 April 2020
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.

Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Section One: Frameworks and Foundations · Chapter 1: Theories of Humor · Chapter 2: Comic Forms · Chapter 3: Archetypes of Comedy · Chapter 4: Comedy, History, and Culture · Chapter 5: Technique and Style Section Two: Local and Global Contexts · Chapter 6: British Film Comedy · Chapter 7: French Film Comedy · Chapter 8: Italian Film Comedy · Chapter 9: Russian Film Comedy · Chapter 10: Film Comedy in Africa · Chapter 11: Film Comedy in Scandinavia · Chapter 12: Film Comedy in South America · Chapter 13: Film Comedy in East Asia Recommended Reading Index

Reviews

Costanzo's When The World Laughs wins the Oscar for the most thorough and engaging study of cinematic comedies from Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and beyond, embracing theory, cultural perspectives, history, and the variety of comic elements as well more thoroughly than any other book written so far. -- Andrew Horton, University of Oklahoma This is the book the field had been waiting for, a wide-ranging study of film comedy that is informed by humor studies scholarship, erudite, well-researched, and yet quite readable. -- Salvatore Attardo, Texas A & M University - Commerce When the World Laughs insightfully analyzes a global selection of film comedy from Britain to Italy, Africa to East Asia, illuminating aesthetics, politics, and values. Exploring theories of humor, genre, history, culture, archetypes, and style, Costanzo presents a solid exploration of exceptional scope and depth. -- Diane Carson, UFVA Past President

When the World Laughs insightfully analyzes a global selection of film comedy from Britain to Italy, Africa to East Asia, illuminating aesthetics, politics, and values. Exploring theories of humor, genre, history, culture, archetypes, and style, Costanzo presents a solid exploration of exceptional scope and depth. * Diane Carson, UFVA Past President * This is the book the field had been waiting for, a wide-ranging study of film comedy that is informed by humor studies scholarship, erudite, well-researched, and yet quite readable. * Salvatore Attardo, Texas A & M University - Commerce * Costanzo's When The World Laughs wins the Oscar for the most thorough and engaging study of cinematic comedies from Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and beyond, embracing theory, cultural perspectives, history, and the variety of comic elements as well more thoroughly than any other book written so far. * Andrew Horton, University of Oklahoma *

Author Information

William V. Costanzo is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of English and Film who has taught writing, literature, and film courses since 1970. A graduate of Columbia University with a Certificate in Film from NYU, Dr. Costanzo has published six books ranging from writing and computers to world cinema and film genres.

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